Style Maven Series: Carol Alt

1979 was a fabulous year; It's the year I was born, US & China began diplomatic relations, Margaret Thatcher becomes the First Woman Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mother Theresa was Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
AND it was the year Carol Alt burst onto the modelling scene on the cover of Harpers Bazaar (Italia). She is a Multi faceted and talented Maven who has an amazing career as a model with over 700 magazine covers to her credit and countless editorials, ads and features.
This is one of the most iconic Sports Illustrated images I remember.

She is also an actress, and author 4 times over writing about her passions: Fashion and Raw Food.
She is an entrepreneur with a RAW & NATURAL line of skincare products called RAW ESSENTIALS.

She told me "We are the ONLY chemical free skin care line on the market. That’s good for healthy bodies because everything you put on your skin is absorbed into your body; which is why women are having problems with breast cancer tumours from paraffin, because paraffin’s mimics hormones. We are also results driven. We get unbelievable results. Our results are so fantastic that the photographers taking the before and after pictures said “these are the best before and afters we have ever seen!”
I asked Carol; If someone was going to try RAW ESSENTIALS what should they start with? Carol suggests "Start with a scrub, it is good to get rid of the old dead skin cells and bring up beautiful young skin. Then a moisturizer. We have a sensitive skin moisturizer and an anti-aging moisturizer. Your skin will never get oily because the oil in our product is “raw oil”. It is in a form that the body can understand and utilize immediately."

RAW ESSENTIALS WILL BE FEATURED IN GREATER DETAIL IN AN UPCOMING BLOG - PURCHASE IT HERE

Carol LOVES FASHION and since being in the business since 1979 she has acquired a collection of pieces, gained invaluable knowledge of design, textiles and the business of fashion and seen trends come and go (and perhaps come back again). I had the chance to chat with Carol via telephone recently and ask her my Style Maven questions.

LISA: Can you describe your personal Style aesthetic AND attitude about fashion?

CAROL: I’m a classic Sexy, I like tailored. I love the female form and I think it should be shown off. I like simple, sleek, chic, classic sexy things that show the form off. There is a problem with that because some people cross the line and it becomes trashy. There is a very fine line of just being a classic, simple, sleek, sexy dresser and I don’t over do it with accessories.

LISA: What are the key components / pieces in your closet?

CAROL: It depends what we are talking about. If it is dressing for an evening I like my simple black dress. I also have the simple black dress in lots of different colours. For day, I think anything paired with a nice pair of jeans is fine. I think dressing up jeans is great. I LOVE, LOVE White Shirts (fitted). I have different versions of the fitted white shirt. I think it's great for people who don’t have a lot of money to spend or don’t have the excess money to have a lot of different things. You can wear a pair of jeans and if you change your shoes and bag people think you are dressed completely different. Things that aren’t as expensive as say your blazer or your silk shirt.

LISA: How do you feel about Vintage Clothing and Accessories?

CAROL: LOVE IT!!! last night I wore a vintage piece to dinner.

LISA: What are your favorite Vintage pieces (Clothing and/or Accessories)? Do you only wear designer vintage?

CAROL: I like what suits my body, I don’t really care what is in fashion. I really like to wear things that look good on me. Ultimately if they look good on you people are going to ask you where you got it anyway. I have a girlfriend who is a Vintage shopper and she dresses me. Her name is Melanie and she picks all my pieces for me. In a sense I am somewhat spoiled because she knows me better than I do.
She is into designer pieces and likes picking designer pieces. For the AMFAR gala I wore a gold Gucci vintage gown that she had picked out for me.

She also has picked me up little Vintage sweater vests, not your typical vests but really unique styled sweater vests that you would wear open over a white shirt and jeans in a very soft brown knit. She also picked me up four Vintage shirts that are long, stretch jersey knit that I wear over stretch pants. I have no clue who they are, there were no labels in them at all. I really don’t care about labels, as long as it is a beautiful piece and looks good on me.


LISA: What are you wearing this Fall/Winter? Tell our readers the key elements for your F/W 2012 wardrobe?

CAROL: Unfortunately the platform is back so it makes all your other shoes look old if you don’t get a pair or two of platforms. It is unfortunate because I am 5’11”. I’m getting a couple of pair of platforms. I still like a sleek look and my skirts a little bit longer, it’s much more sexy and of course always a tailored jacket. I’ve gotten a couple of really short that I will wear over stretch pants but into boots. I am doing a real mix, I am finding at this age I don’t really care what people think. It allows me to experiment a little bit more because I don’t care.

LISA: If you could give women 1 piece of STYLE advice, what would it be?

CAROL: Simple. Just Simplicity.


CLICK ON IMAGES TO ENLARGE ~ Carol's Closet:














EVOLUTION VINTAGE Pick's for Carol:

VINTAGE FAUX FUR JACKET - SAKS FIFTH AVENUE 70's

VINTAGE CHRISTIAN DIOR CROP COAT 80's

VINTAGE RIDING JACKET - NAVY

VINTAGE Late 70's/early 80's EVENING GOWN - ROBERT DAVID MORTON for NEIMAN MARCUS

1990'S RICHARD TYLER SILK BLAZER

VINTAGE 80'S BACKLESS COCKTAIL DRESS

SHOP: EVOLUTION VINTAGE

Be A Best Buddy

I want to take some time to feature an amazing organization called BEST BUDDIES. It is a non-profit organization and according to their web site they are "dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).


CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT SEGMENT


Founded in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to almost 1,500 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States, and in 50 countries around the world. Best Buddies’ seven formal programs – Best Buddies Middle Schools, High Schools, Colleges, Citizens, e-Buddies, Jobs and Ambassadors – positively impact nearly 700,000 individuals with and without disabilities worldwide. Best Buddies volunteers annually contribute, at no cost to their communities, support services that equate to more than $164 million USD.


As a result of their involvement with Best Buddies, people with IDD secure rewarding jobs, live on their own, become inspirational leaders, and make lifelong friendships."Sounds amazing to me. This is an organization that is close to my heart and their most recent event to raise funds is taking place TOMORROW here on the Central Coast of California! From Carmel to San Simeon - ending at Hearst Castle! Former first Lady of California Maria Shriver has assembled a fabulous team to ride/walk/run for the Best Buddies Hearst Castle Challenge; including Nancy O'Dell ( TV Personality: Co-Host of Entertainment Tonight, Co-Host Your Own Show - Oprah Winfrey Network and two time Author)

Nancy told me why the Best Buddies organization is so close to heart. Her Aunt Ellen had Down Syndrome and she is riding her honor tomorrow. She expressed "I had my own best buddy-my Aunt Ellen. As you know, she was a person who had Down Syndrome. She lived with my grandparents and growing up, she was a wonderful friend for me. Oh the hours we spent playing when I would go visit my grandparentsl. We would play the piano and organ, shoot basketball, play catch and putt-putt golf, go bowling, or just watch tv. She would ask me questions all the time like: What can't go to school like you? Why can't I be a cheerleader too? Why can't I be in a school band? I didn't have any answers for her. I remember taking some of the questions to my grandfather, but I'll never forget his answer when I asked him "Why did God make her the way he did?". He answered with: "Because he knew what a good friend she could be to you."

Nancy with her Aunt Ellen

Aunt Ellen had a lot of love to give the world, but most of the world didn't know what she had to offer. She made them feel uncomfortable and they went ahead and organized ball games without ever asking her to be on the team. They had no idea what a great friend she could be. Well a lot has changed since Aunt Ellen was a girl. And so much of that has to do with what the Shriver family has done...from Special Olympics to Best Buddies. Best Buddies has close to 1500 chapters around the world, has impacted nearly 700,000 participants and as a result of their involvement with BB, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have secured rewarding jobs, live on their own, have become inspirational leaders, and have made lifelong friendships. I thank Best Buddies for that...for making a difference in so many lives!

So what are you waiting for??? Want to be a best Buddy? Make a donation to Team Maria for Nancy O'Dell's ride tomorrow HERE


Just a few clicks and a few dollars could help so many! It is an organization close to me heart as well! xo

From GRIND to GLAM

Dear Readers,

I have entered a competiton to be the next contributing writer for LUCKY MAGAZINE!! The competition has 5 rounds total and I require VOTES to get me to the next round. This is round 2 of 5! There is onle a day left to VOTE for my second submission! You must take a few minutes to register so your VOTE will count!

FROM GRIND to GLAM:
Life is all about choices; from what you wear to how you style your hair are a few of the most important choices you will make during the course of your day. We live in a commercial and digital world where all the answers and miracle products are literally at our fingertips. We must choose our path from the daily GRIND to GLAM, taking us from our workday well into the night.

Drab to FAB:
I have an eclectic style sensibility and dress according to my personal mood and not necessarily based on the event or setting. I am a work from home MOMpreneur and on most days’ I am an owner/stylist for an on-line eBOUTIQUE (Evolution Vintage), writer, mother, and domestic diva (which includes but is not limited to: a laundry lass, chef, and house cleaner). I have multiple roles and wear multiple hats on a daily basis. Rarely do I have a full blown yoga pant drab day with my lap top. Let’s face it we all feel like human blotation devices at certain times during the course of the month so those days DO happen. That being said I don’t come to my home office in a 2 piece blazer and pencil skirt either but I am all about mixing the old with the new for fashion-flex comfort. Accessories are the key to my day/night transition.

On a typical day I work in denim or leggings with a fabulous, lightweight top or tunic. My RockNRoll Burnout Style T-shirts (from Evolution Vintage $25) are my go-to tee with jeans and a blazer – Soft, Stylish & CHIC! Maxi dresses are also a recent staple as well as cute vintage day dresses and of course the wrap dress. I love prints and textures and never shy away from color regardless of season. I wear sequins to the grocery store … HELLO! Instant day time GLAM. My accessories run the fashion gamut from vintage jewelry, sequin berets, junk jewels from Forever 21, fedora’s, headscarves, a selection of sunglasses, belts as statement piece necklaces and cocktail rings. You name it; I wear it in my home office, spending time with friends and family and while running my daily errands. Making a transition from day to night is all about the accessories for me and a quick make-up upgrade. I usually have my closet at my fingertips running my business from home but many of you are on the go from the wee hours of the morning. If you are on your way out the door to the office throw a clutch, cocktail ring and statement necklace in your bag as well as a fabulous pair of heels. After work ditch the blazer and briefcase for your colorful clutch and cocktail ring and let your necklace make a statement. Throwing on heels can enhance your entire look by making you feel taller and even changing the way you carry yourself … life is your runway sisters ~ WORK IT!

The BUSINESS of daily BEAUTY:
LOCK IT IN: If I have no time for a blow out in the AM (which is usually the case for me) I throw my wet locks up/back into a sleek chignon or braid. By days end my hair is damp/dry where I take it down and shake it into a fabulously wavy beachy look. I use products from the TRESemme line. Hot rollers have been a go to piece of equipment since the 1990’s for me. They set while I rush around in the morning, dressing, moisturizing, and eating breakfast. I remove, spray, shake and fly out the door (during my corporate days). I now repeat the same steps but in a much slower pace while making the kids breakfast, packing lunch and still SPF-ing. To maintain the curls strategically pin them for day (all up or half up) and let them loose for the evening. Soft curls in long hair for day AND night is still CHIC! Top it off with a cute hat, turban or headscarf (if allowed at your place of business) if not pull it out of your bag of tricks for evening.

FACE IT:
DAY: I wear very little make-up during the day. My beauty ritual starts with my Meaningful Beauty Skin Softening Cleanser and Antioxidant Day Crème (SPF 20 – UVA/UVB) – Don’t forget the SPF ladies, we don’t want to work toward looking like a 30 year old leather hand bag do we? YIKES! Can’t justify Cindy’s program? Try a lower priced alternative like Bioré Revitalize 4-in-1 self-foaming cleanser and Olay Complete daily UV moisturizer w SPF 15. I am a gloss girl and use M.A.C. Crème sheen Glass (Try: Boy Bait) or Lip glass (Try: Viva Glam V), Dior Addict Crystal Gloss (047). A fruity flavored lip balm from The Body Shop is a budget friendly alternative for $5! I finish my minimal look with M.A.C Eye shadow (try Dazzlelight) and Lash Stiletto Mascara, in Black from Maybelline New York.

EVE: The evening is a different story, a color story. It does not take long to make your face your canvas and get creative with color. Packing your purse to transition in your cubical for cocktails is simple. Don’t be afraid of COLOR; try a bright blue from Kat Von D’s Beethoven True Romance Eye shadow Palette in “Speed Blue” or a beautiful green from the Ludwig Palette mixing “Orbi” & “Dimebag”. With your Dazzelight base from the morning you are good to go. Add a quick “Cat’s Eye” on top of your lash line with a M.A.C. Fluid line (Blacktrack) $15 using M.A.C angle brush #208 for a vintage-esque touch. Pay lip service to the glimmer gloss and give my FAV’s a spin; Y.S.L. Yves Saint Laurent Golden Gloss (in Simply Golden $30) or M.A.C. LustreGlass (in Morning Glory - $14.50). Prefer a liner and stick? Try Creamola lip liner ( also from M.A.C. @ $14.50) and one for their MANY lip stick shades, perhaps a classic red lip is another quick way to go into the evening. I use M.A.C Studio Fix pressed powder ($26.50) on my face in the evening as a base and completely shy away from blush. Your natural glow or blush is my preferred method.

NAIL IT: On the days we dash from our workplace to dinner take some time to add some drama on your digits. Try the new dry manicure from Sally Hansen Nail Effects. No fuss, no fumes, no problem. They are the BEST conversation piece. They are nail polish “strips” or “stickers” that you can use to give yourself an instant manicure with no spills or mess of a regular polish which make them totally portable. They come in some fabulous patterns and prints too, let me recommend (350)-Misbehaved in a metallic with fishnet pattern or (230)-Skinny Jeans for a digit denim look. All the tools you need come with the strips and last up to 10 days. Give yourself a hand in 10 minutes for about $9 bucks!

No matter what your occupation, geographical location, budget or style you can take it from the daily GRIND to GLAM with a few easy steps and choices. Embrace the FUN of establishing your beauty routine by sampling or trying out new items and looks. Remember many manufactures or brands offer free samples of their products so take advantage of the offers (in the store or on-line), think outside your cubicles and let your unique beauty SHINE!

CLICK TO REGISTER & CAST YOUR VOTE!!!

Tuesday's Thought: Customization

Within out society we can customize ANYTHING we want .. for a price. You can customize your car, your home, even down to your napkins and dinnerware. We customize clothing, phones, laptops, towels, robes; you can place your custom monogram on almost every conceivable object. What about your LIFE? I wonder why people do not work on customizing their lives more.

Like everything else it will come at a price; judgement of others, hard work, choice, sacrifice, perhaps money but the most precious commodity of all TIME.

Let me be clear about what I mean. To customize one's life is to choose the things/activities that make you authentically happy, the things you honestly WANT. On a small scale, you know you SHOULD clean your house but you WANT to read your new book. It is about making YOUR desires and dreams your PRIORITY. It could be on a small or grand scale. A large scale example could be that you know you should leave your current relationship because it is unhealthy in some way or making you unhappy, but you choose to stay to maintain status quo and take the path of least resistance; low cost.

We all have responsibilities that we perceive precludes the option of choice to do what we truly want in our lives. I think we can have it ALL. After all my chosen responsibilities are complete in a day, I ALWAYS take time to do something that I WANT. I choose to make myself a priority in my own life. This is where the cost comes in. I may have to sacrifice sleep but it is well worth it. Self Time and Self Care is not Self-ish! I have always wanted to be a mother and have the opportunity to be present while raising my children. As equally important to me was being able to have a career and make a contribution to society. I therefore had to customize my life to make what is important to me a reality. I created and chose a home based business/occupation so I could work, build my future and be here for my children. I could have easily put my children in day care and went to work but why? I want my life, in all facets to be tailored to my wants, dreams and goals. Customization is what makes my life come to life!

Let's face it we all have the same 24 hours in each day. YOU are the only one responsible for how your time is spent.

Make your Tuesdays thought about a way that YOU can customize your life to get the most of of the time you have been given. Consider what you are willing to "pay" to have the life you have always imagined. It IS possible, but up to YOU.

"Everyday in every way I create my own reality. So what is it that I choose to create today"? - Gabriella Goddard.

SUCCESS: How Bad Do You Want It?

I gather inspiration and motivation from various sources; LIVE or DIGITAL they both have served to change my thinking and motivate me. Sometimes during our daily grind we all need an infusion of hope, positivity, inspiration or motivation to keep moving forward.

Anyone who knows me knows I am obsessed with inspirational quotations. I use my social networks on a daily basis to spread my obsession and words of wisdom. A few days ago someone returned the favour (Thanks Fernando!). A friend I worked with, what seems a million years ago re-stoked my fire to succeed and build my dreams at any cost by posting this video to his Facebook wall.

This will be the best 5 minutes you have ever spent if you want to be successfull.



(Voice over provided by ET - Eric Thomas: The Hip Hop Preacher - Author of the book "The secret to SUCCESS: When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe")

So Do You REALLY want to be SUCCESSFUL? Remember you only fail if you QUIT!

Chatting With CoCo Part 2: Shoe Freak

CoCo LOVES fashion and in my opinion is a Style Maven in her own right. She has given her heart to dressing, styling and designing for her new line LICIOUS, but she has given her soul (or SOLE in this case) to her SHOES! I have to say I completely understand her obsession. Shoes are a transformational piece in your wardrobe; they can take you from day to night, make you feel taller, walk more confidently and give you pure joy. Ladies, those of you who have had that "shoe experience" KNOW what I'm talking about.

She ALWAYS has a great pair of shoes on to compliment her look. Out of all the images I have seen of COCO on and off the red carpet I think I have only seen her in 1 pair of FLATS. If you step into CoCo's World she posts photos of her "Shoe of the Week" on her BLOG. Some of my FAVS:

Mauve(Lilac) Mesh & Patent Leather Christian Louboutin's

Orange Patent Peep Toes (Raport Signature)

Black Tom Ford Mesh Heels w Silver tone Metal Stem.

Versace Boots!

She even expresses her obsession with her shoes in the catchy dance track "Shoe Freak" (available to purchase from iTunes)

CLICK TO SEE COCO RECORD HER SONG!

We talked all things FASHION and of course we talked about CoCo the self proclaimed Shoe Freak:

LISA: We all know you LOVE SHOES! How would you describe your feelings?

COCO: "It is definitely addiction for me. It is like people collect baseball cards, or cars, I collect shoes; it is a collection. Once you get addicted to it is hard to stop, especially when you know when you put on a pair of hells you feel Fabulous. Your legs look longer, they look shapelier. You just feel all around sexy. Even when you are having a bad body day, put on a pair of heels and you feel better. If you are having a bad hair day It makes you feel very womanly. I can transcend a bad day by putting on a pair of heels and now I feel good. That’s just how I feel inside."

LISA: Where did your love of shoes come from?

COCO: "I was a Tom-Boy when I was little, when I grew up I played sports and had more guy friends then girl friends. I wasn’t really into the girly thing. I didn’t own a doll. I was just that type of girl. Now the shoes … I always had every single colour of Keds that you could find, hot pink, yellow, green through high school and even before. I might be a tomboy but I was looking good with my shoes. My shoes were my everything. Every body always complimented me. I was having a hard time when I was growing up I had a thicker athletic type of body and back then that wasn’t "it", so I felt weird and strange with the other girls in the class. I felt like I was odd and I think maybe that to cover that at little bit I got some pretty damn nice shoes on.

So it progressed through the years from my different coloured Keds to wearing heels.

I had my first heels when I was 12 years old. They were little like 2 inches high and patent leather little pumps. I fell in LOVE, I put those things on and loved I how my legs looks. I always felt a little too big on the bottom and felt like they balanced me out a bit. I put them on and after that day I was hooked forever."

LISA: Do you recall what your first pair of designer heels were?

COCO: "I don’t remember the first pair but I do remember a story when I first got with ICE. I got with ICE around age 22 and I had never had designer shoes before then. To me I was more into shoes and they didn’t have to be designer. If it looked hot I would get them. I didn’t get into designer shoes until got older of course. You don’t really have the stamina or the money to invest until later or even knew what designer shoes were. The first gift I got from ICE was a pair of Louis Vuitton. They were little black pumps, they weren’t really high heels because he didn’t really know my style, but to him they were high heels (they were about 3 inches). The thought of him giving me shoes and they were designer shoes was really the sweetest thing he could have done. When you buy shoes that is a woman’s heart right there. I still got those shoes right now. I will never let them go because they were the first."

LISA: Do you have a FAVOURITE pair?

COCO: "No! because every time I say this if my favourite then I see another pair and this is my favourite. When people come to my closet and we do interviews in my closet it is very hard to pick out one from the other."

LISA: How many pairs do you have at last count?

COCO: "Well, I last counted at 500 and that was a while ago, so maybe by now it is about 600. Problem is I don’t have enough room so now I have to get rid of a pair for a new one. I hate that! But what I am going to do is start giving them out on my Blog. Giving them away to people who cant afford them. I wear a size 6, it is going to be a little hard for people because the size is small"

She also shares a cute shoe story with me about a newspaper clipping ICE brought home for her to read.

COCO: A story that just happened the other day. Ice knows of my collection and I have another one in Arizona. Ice knows I am pretty into shoes so brings home this news paper clipping about a poker player who is 41 years old and it is a big closet with her in her shoe closet.

So I said, "why did you bring this home to me?" he said "I read the article

and she says she has over 1200 pairs of shoes. I thought I was doing good"

I replied "Thanks honey now I have to go shoe shopping".

Coco I'm free to shoe shop with you any time sole sister if you need a partner who can keep up and marathon shop the Manolo's. I may not have the budget you do but I could sure use a pair of Loubies in my life!! (with studs please)

Denim Studded Christian Louboutin's from week 12 of CoCo's Shoe of the Week Series

Take a peek into part of CoCo's NYC Closet ... (Don't forget she has a satellite shoe closet in AZ too!)

SHOE STYLE: Click on Images to ENLARGE

EVOLUTION VINTAGE would pair this Vintage snake like Vintage Silver tone Bendable/Versatile necklace. Twist and mold this piece into any desired shape. It can be styled as a bracelet also. Bendable metal in light silver and gun metal metallic ($90).

With COCO's BeBe heels:

OR This Vintage 1980's Curve Hugging, beaded sweater mini dress ($60)

and CoCo's Tom Ford Mesh Heels with Silver tone metal heel stem

SHOP for these pieces and more @ EVOLUTION VINTAGE